Picture a situation where you recently installed a new roof on your house. It’s a beautiful new roof but as time goes on, to your disappointment dark colored stains gradually taint its attractiveness. Moreover, moss patches also seem to be forming in the shaded areas of your roof.  Now what?

It is commonly believed that the changes in weather are the main reason why their roof that was once attractive has become tainted or flat looking in such a short time. Yes the environment is one of the main reasons along with other “gifts” left by birds and trees. However the true main cause is a minuscule microorganism, that landed on your home’s roof. The black areas may simply look like stains when viewed from afar however if a person were to look a bit closer, they would see that the these marks are actually live algae that can spread rapidly. If your home is in a somewhat shaded area or is in a climate with higher than average rainfall, you want to be especially well prepared. As it is with shingles, there is limestone within them which is the perfect breeding ground for such microorganisms and if the roof is not treated in time, there could be permanent damage.

When dealing with both mold and roof moss removal a homeowner can either request expert assistance or perform the roof cleaning themselves (though it can be risky to do it alone – if the rooftop is coated with moss/mold, the roof tends be very slippery). If you opt to clean the moss yourself, there are some tips to help you. Bleach (real chlorine) diluted with water is the most common method used to clean a rooftop coated with algae and/or moss. There is one downfall to using bleach though. It can be hazardous to a person’s lungs or skin if he does not wear adequate protection, like a face mask, gloves, long-sleeved clothing, etc.

Additionally, remember that while you are cleaning the roof, you should start at the highest point first and work downward. In addition, you should spray the bleach and water mixture downward as well. If you were to spray in an upward direction, you might get the bleach solution underneath shingles. When you clean the roof downward instead of upward, you will avoid any additional issues like ceiling leaks, even though that problem is usually more common if someone uses pressurized spraying equipment.

You can use a basic garden hose to cleanse the bleach and water mixture off the roof. High-pressurized equipment does work well to remove roof stains however as it can cause permanent damage to the shingles. You may choose to buy a brush specifically for roof scrubbing and very lightly brush the discolored areas; however, this technique has its individual downfalls as well. It is additionally vital that you tread lightly upon your roof too so that you do not damage shingles or slip and fall. The gutter could also be an area where you may want to clean as well. Look for any fragments, like tree leaves or other elements from nature and clear them out of the roof’s gutter.

Keep in mind that cleaning moss or other algae from a roof can be a hazardous, slick task; therefore you might want to think about buying a chicken roof ladder and a roof harness. These pieces of equipment can be pricey but will provide you with a safer roof cleaning experience and make the task simpler too.

So there you have it, you now know how to clean a roof the right way.  Just be aware though that it takes consistent maintenance to prevent the moss and mold from reappearing so be diligent.

Share